Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Short post today, here are some magic Items I am leaving in treasure hordes in This is Thracia as well as some I wrote for 13th Age.Daedalus WaxComes
in a pot with 1d6 uses must be melted and painted on the users back.
Then once that day the user can Fly their speed for one hour. Potential
drawbacks: while applied user takes double damage from fire. Fly spell
dispelled If user takes fire damage while flying. May also cause
feelings of overconfidence.

Map of Groaning Ground

This
Thin calf skin, leather map looks like the drawings and markings have
been etched into the leather with fire. Enchanted by the dwarves hunting
Living dungeons before they reach the surface for the dwarf King. It’s
original purpose was to detail the insides of the dungeons as the
dwarves hunt them. One side will show a large scale view of the land
surrounding Forge, marked with the locations of dangerous underground
locations. The Other has a map of the last Dungeon or similar place the
owner explored.Quirk, constantly wants to sketch a quick map of the local area.Essentially
this is a magical item that is also a plot hook and excuse to give the
players a map of the dungeon in advance, or make it from Dwarven Forge,
and then surprise them with the contents.

Demon Trapping Sack

Large Sack made of Strangely stretchy leather like Skin. (Demon SKin)This Sack can be used to trap a Demon.It
makes one attack at Users Level + 3/5/7 by tier vs MD Success sucks the
Demon inside the bag. The Demon gets last gasp saves. If it fails them
it is trapped in the bag for a year and a day. The bag can only hold 1
demon at a time. If the bag is opened while a demon is inside it is let
out they are normally very angryThese sacks are sometimes used by agents of the Diabolist to smuggle demons into places.It is said that there are Vaults full of these bags and their trapped demons in the Golden Citadel.

Thursday, 21 February 2013

This week I weigh 14st and 2 lbs. I need to lose another 2 lbs by this time next week to win this month’s Diet bet.Going back to Ninjutsu and a conversation with Ceri have got me thinking about Rolling. K8 told me an awesome quote about it on the way home from training on Monday: “You
roll in order to move quickly out of the way without needing to rely on
having to use your feet or legs in the usual fashion. Especially if
there are vertical or horizontal ‘issues’ to overcome en route.”So
the following is what I know about rolling right now, it’s something
I’m going to come back to as I get better at it again as well.1. Learn to breakfall2. Start near the floor3. Keep your limbs in4. Protect your knees!5. LOOK where you are going and where you have come from in case you are being pursued 6. Aim to finish in a safe and ready position with your toes under your feet braced to allow further quick movement 7. PracticeFalling
is important, a black belt in ninjutsu pretty much tells other people
you can fall and therefore it is safe to train fully with you.

Thursday, 14 February 2013

Today
I weigh 14st and 2lbs despite having had pancakes (and paid a forfeit
into the diet bet) on Tuesday. I have also decided to give up both Diet
Coke and Being mean to people (I’m using lent as a motivator for this
but in practice I want to give them up forever.) In
addition to excellent pancakes, I also had an excellent game of Dnd on
Tuesday and Robin, K8 and myself all wrote up the session. here are the
writeups:I should also add that alot of my Temple of Elemental Evil plots are inspired by this post: http://wondrousimaginings.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/oldschooling-pathfinder-with-toee.htmlThe
Party followed the treasure map they got from the possesed goblins to a
tree on a rise north of Troy, there they found a party of 6 muppet
goblins with a skeleton on a rope. Clio shot the skeleton and a parlay
with the goblins began:“you owe us a skeleton” demanded the goblin“take it in bits” said Xavian“Ok” said the goblin (some conversation abbreviated)It
also revealed that they were capturing Skeletons for the crazy wizard
south of Troy, and that the North gate of Troy was missing. After
sending the goblins on their way they found a pit beyond the hill with
the tree on it. The pit was open and looked like the start of an
undermining effort against the walls of troy, long abandoned and filled
with rubble. Khandi investigated while tied to a rope, and as she
climbed out found a stash of bags full of gold on the underside of the
trapdoors.The
pit was closed and the party continued to the south. As they came into
sight of the walls they discovered that the Goblin was correct. a short
section of the walls including the North Gate of Troy was missing. A
closer investigation led to a battle with Dessicated Trojan warriors
their spears made from the dust of the city seemed to leech the feeling
from limbs as they struck. (Wights in Dnd next are really interesting).
The warriors were dispatched but the effects of their blows lingered,
retreating to a safe distance from Troy, Iola performed rituals to
remove curses.They
travelled south for a day to the Temple River and then east for 2 more
days before investigating the Moathouse once more. The drawbridge at the
Moathouse was missing but a walkway of earth had replaced it. All of
the bodies were missing from the moat house including from the dungeons
beneath. The place that Tharg (the half orc) fell was still
necromanticaly tainted. They concluded that followers of the Earth
Temple must have been there.A
day and a halfs further travel east brought them within sight of the
walls of the temple. Starkly changed from Xavian and Khandi’s previous
visit the outer works were a hive of activity. Slaves labored under the
whips of earth temple guards around the southern gate rebuilding the
Walls. In the South east corner of the wall ranks upon ranks of
humanoids stood unnaturally still. Clio recognised them as unliving.
North of the undead and in the middle of the works near the eastern wall
was a small camp of perhaps a dozen tents bearing the mark of Elemental
Water. On the far side of the temple on the western side was a similar
camp bearing the symbol of Elemental Fire, Patrols of Hobgoblins
regularly left that camp and circled the walls. North of the Fire camp
and in the North west corner was a larger Earth bannered Camp around a
ruined building that they seemed to be rebuilding. Finally in the
Northeast corner, near the tower that Xavian and Khandi had learned
about arrows was another smaller camp with black banners. Waiting
for the cover of night Xavian snuck forward to free the slaves, conning
and dispatching the guard watching them. Meanwhile Kavern, Khandi and
Ioala snuck closer to the tower camp while Clio set fire to the largest
tent in the Water temple’s camp. This caused the expected uproar and
distractions. The Water temple demanded recompense and before long the
Earth temple noticed the missing slaves and set off in pursuit. The
party gathered back together and eavesdropped on the commander of the
forces in the Black Bannered camp. They waylaid the fighter sent to
disturb “The master” from inside the tower and questioned him. They
learnt that lareth had returned 2 weeks ago as a Lich, That Falrinth
who led the Temple forces at this level had bowed before him and he had
led the various forces of the temple out to the surface and set them to
various tasks. That the emperor himself had visited the temple about 2
months ago and left with people from the Air temple and that Lareth was
staying in the tower.The party knocked him out and tied him up before assaulting the tower. Blessed
with the might of Ares Iola smashed in the door to the Lich’s chamber
and both Xavian and Clio launched arrows and bolts into him, while
Khandi began operation halfling ransack. Kaverns flask of Green slime
went astray and the slime began to devour a dresser. The lich responded
with a Flame strike and by infusing himself with dark power closing some
of his wounds. However Iola lifted the 8th Sword of Ares and smote him
critically destroying its head. As his empty armour fell to the floor
they quickly looted the room, smashed the Pearl Skull he was wearing as
an amulet and fled through a tunnel they found in the floor. The tunnel
led half a kilometer to the west before emerging into a small cave. From
there they headed back to Cannakale Xavian managing to lead 24 of the
slaves he freed to safety. Robin Xavian’s player and K8 who plays Iola also sent me write ups:From the journal of Amos, First Disciple of Xavian (self proclaimed).Our
taskmasters had worked us particularly hard that day, wishing to speed
up the completion of their great task, the details of which, lowly
slaves like us were never privy to. All we knew was the oppressive heat
of the sun and the terrible sting of their whips and the soul devouring
exhaustion that hung ever about our shoulders. The night meant an end to
the days labours, but it offered us no comfort. It's cold embrace
merely gave us time to better feel the ache in our bones and the despair
in our hearts. Three more of our number gave in to their misery and
took their lives. I pity these poor souls most, for had they but waited a
few more hours then salvation would have been theirs, as it was ours.I
was sat weeping, sick from the sun, when the stranger appeared. He
appeared as if from nowhere, cloaked in shadows and silence and I
thought that Hades himself had finally come to claim us. He came to the
gate of our prison and with a wave of his hand, the lock fell free. We
could only watch, terrified, as the stranger set about releasing us from
our bonds. We knew not what to do, surely this was some trap, some ploy
of our dark masters to further break our spirits. We dared not to dream
of freedom, hope had been a stranger to us for too long. But then the
stranger spoke and his gentle voice was as a balm to our tortured souls."Fear not, my brothers and sisters, for I am come to take you away from this fell place. Follow me for I am your freedom."In
his words we saw only truth. This man, this cloaked stranger, had truly
come to save us from our plight. Eagerly now we followed him from our
pen, but despair would not so easily let us slip from it's clutches. In
our path stood a legion of our captors, blades out, waiting to take from
us our newly gifted freedom, or our lives should, we resist. The
stranger, however, stepped forth to meet them."My
people have suffered enough at your hands." He spoke calmly, but his
voice carried with an air of authority beyond mortal men. "Let us pass."Our
enemy, beholden as they were to foul powers, could not hear the divine
resonance behind the stranger's voice and were unmoved."These
people have but begun to taste the agonies that we have prepared for
them." One of their number jeered. "And who are you that thinks he can
stop us?"With a great sweep, the stranger flung back his cloak and divine light shone out into the night."I am Xavian, son of mighty Zeus and champion of the weak!"With
one slash of his mighty blade, the mighty Xavian slew fully half of the
amassed legion and sent the rest fleeing into the night. With the way
clear, our lord bade us follow once more and led us from darkness.Once
we were away from the dark temple, blessed Xavian spoke once more. He
commanded us to wait at the feet of the great mountains. There we would
remain safe while he returned to the temple to finish his holy mission
and though many begged him not to leave, he would not be swayed."Fear
not my people," he said, "I shall return and lead you to freedom as I
have promised. However, I came to this place with companions who yet
wait for me at that dark place and to them I must return, for justice is
not yet done with this foul place."With that, he was gone, as swiftly and as silently as when he first appeared.Many
hours did we wait. So many that we began to once more feel the cold
hand of despair. But then we heard the great death cry of the lich echo
throughout the valley and a moment later our lord was amoung us once
more. He led us west, the direction of prosperity and freedom, and at
dawns first light, we were joined by the Blessed Companions. Theirs was a
band as varied as it was magnificent. There was the Huntress, an archer
raised in the wild by wolves whose arrows are said to never miss their
mark. The Child, eternally youthful and blessed with the gift of
prophecy. The Half Man, who traded away much of his mortal form in
exchange for mystical powers. Finally there was the Warrior. A fair
maiden clad in armour of purest silver and wielding a holy sword, she is
said to be cursed, her heart forever torn between our saviour and her
own god. Along with these great heroes, our lord led us safely back to
the village of Kannacle, beyond the reach of the dark forces that had
ensnared us.Whilst
my fellows set to resting their minds and bodies, I found myself beset
with a restlessness beyond any I had known before. When finally I slept,
I dreamed. I dreamed of dark forces abroad in the world, of innocent
men, women and children enslaved to their will, as I had been and when I
awoke, I knew what I must do. It will be my mission to go forth and
carry the word of my lord. I will be his herald in the world. I will
gather others, and together we will bring light to darkness and hope to
the hopeless. And so i leave this, so that even if i should fall, my
words will remain and others will be able to carry on my great mission.May the light of Xavian fall upon you all.A
few of the other slaves recognise the name Amos. They seem to recall
that at the time of the rescue, he was suffering from an extremely bad
case of sunstroke and was quite deliriousIola’s writeup:Report from Iola:The Army Rosta: the unusual suspects.Absent: Farouque; apparently bathing...again...Not to self ensure he is not being brain washed by bath related peril.Troy: Who let the Ghouls out?Threats:Unliving
creatures from Troy are now loose and able to cross the threshold of
the City. The doors have been carefully removed and perhaps it is this
which has broken the seal which until now held the denizens within. The
culprits need to be found. These are now also Hopolites rather than
simple mindless unliving, they are seasoned warriors demonstrating small
unit tactics and co-ordination. A much greater threat than before. Actions:I need scouts to watch any egress from the City and report back as to what and where.I need to know if this is the necromancer or more deluded Thanatos followers.Solutions:Find
the necromancer who is investigating reanimation and how the unliving
from Troy works. Ensure he is on 'our side' or annihilate him and give
his research to Kavern, Deiankus and anyone else of that bent.Temple of Elemental InfightingThe Threat:Too
many resources and troops amassing here, albeit in hatred and bigotry
of one another. We must use this to our advantage. As such Ares was
definitely with us and Operation Gankthebitches proceeded successfully.Cleo again demonstrated her expert bowling arm and desire to kill everything in the vicinity. Kavern
and his infernal Creature proved their worth with a variety of filthy
alchemical nasties to defeat the enemy. Water Temple people are stupid
and assume any fire attach is done by the fire temple. Lareth the aggravating was dispatched...again. Eventually he will learn this is just a game he will continue to lose. Xavian
picked up more sycophants presumably Nyphs have become dull and he is
expanding his horizons. Finally got some more funding for the army.The
small dusky child follows him around still, she is adept at being
inserted into odd places to investigate (perhaps this is why Xavian
keeps her around) but I wonder if she is actually a Goblin or Imp in
disguise, no one could be that innocent...Actions:Continue Operation Gankthebitches as regularly as we can from all sides.I need scouts on the Temple to report movements and see where their supply lines and allies are.Try
and train up Xavian's rabble into a fighting force before he
impregnates them all. Speak to Kavern about possible birth control
options.I need Scouts on the Temple to see where they are and work out where the Air Temple are operating from as they Solutions:Get rid of this problem with guerilla warfare until an assault can be mounted either by stealth or straight out fighting.Then go and reclaim Troy...Troubling PoliticsThe
Emperor is reputed to have visited the ToEE which is why the Norse
Legion were present there also. He confirms his Apotheosis and his
determination to oust all the divine Pantheon. I will meditate on this
with Ares...then work out a way to break him into pieces with righteous
fury.The Temple is funded by his Eliptrum, newly minted coins. Further proof of his treachery.Does
this stain reach to Cannaucle and the fiendish Elf who keeps us out? I
need to seek out Deiankus and Supermangangramicus to ensure she still
follows the Gods and to remedy our current asylum.Notes to self:
Get a scribe...this is tedious, plus see which of Xavian's waifs and
strays can be trained as a holding force for Canacule and a few leaders
within this, should we have to take our more seasoned veterans out to
the Temple or Troy.Praise Ares.That is all.

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

K8 and I went back to training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu last night with Instructor Jim Jones in Reading.Google lies
took us on a harrowing tragical mystery tour of the back roads leading
to Reading across several single lane bridges and along a variety of one
way systems. The
class started with a variety of rolling. A succession of backwards and
then sideways rolls later, both of which were a little trickier than
last time I tried them, showed a lack of practice.We then moved on to a variety of applications of stances or ‘Kamai’
showing how they were different in this year’s school of study and then
turning them into a variety of throws, arm bars and takedowns.The lesson finished with stretching and a cool down.I had a really good time and it feels excellent to be training again. K8 and I will be going back again next week.In the meantime here are some videos of Jim’s Training in Reading: http://www.youtube.com/user/BujinkanReading1?feature=plcp

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Many
(but far from all) of the ruins and places of adventure in my This is
Thracia Campaign have been revealed on the table map, some by
exploration and others by Rumour. Here
is a selection of some of them and what happened there according to
people in the arena: (players in This is Thracia should not follow the
links)Hermean Standing Stones -
These four standing stones within half a day of Cannakale are inscribed
with Hermean Symbols. In the center of them is another stone inscribed
with a Teleport Circle.The Thorn Rimmed Mirror
- Hidden a couple of days march into the Black Wood. This man high
mirror stands covered by a Canvas tarpaulin in the center of a circle of
Briars. It is reputedly a gateway to the realm of the Goblin King.“It is the portal to the realm of the idiot djinns - a vector for a disease of the mind.” - FarouqeTroy -
The Ruins of the Haunted city are cursed by Hecate. It is said that any
who fall here are doomed to rise again and that many of the heroes who
fell in its siege now rule the city as undead lords. Adventurers have
only braved its walls once thus far even though great treasures are said
to be hidden within.“Troy?
it's full of unkillable undead spirits bound by a curse that has
endured for centuries, but the architecture is quite lovely.” - Xavian
The Greatest Thief in the Mediterranean.The Haunted Manor House
- An Abandoned manor house belonging to the foxglove family, before
Adventurers burnt it down. Reputed to be both Haunted and home to a
particularly creepy Ghoul who was apparently obsessed with Dianakous.
Luckily nothing unusual has happened there since it was burnt down,
though no one has been back to check.The Bugbear Cave -
Also in the Black Wood, located at the top of a scree slope. This
cavern complex employs well organised Bugbear Guards and a variety of
creepy Spider’s and weird looking Elves. “Iola
assured me that the majority of them were huge, beastly creatures,
mostly bigger than a horse - just the prospect of those seemed worth the
journey. Well, the first spiders we found were nothing of the sort:
rather they were tiny, scuttling things cast at me by a robed Elf. And
besides that, there were Bugbears - and more Bugbears. Where these giant
spiders Iola spoke of were hiding is a mystery to me” - MouseThe Haunted Prison -
Located north of the Moat House in Temple Valley and south of the Black
Wood Mountains. The tower has long since toppled but the prisons
beneath it are intact. It was here that Domnicus Asiagenus (the former
Legate of Cannakale) fled with the severed head of his wife and turned
her into a Flesh Golem, before Magnicus Judged him with The Hammer of
Law. The Sunken Keep
- This keep south of the Temple River was swallowed by the earth
leaving it at the bottom of a deep ravine. Inhabited by warring tribes
of Kobolds and Goblins. The adventurers who delved within emerged with
the hide of a White Dragon.The Ruined Keep
- Twin to the Sunken Keep, these two fortresses were built to guard
against the return of the temple but soon fell into disuse as the
resources of the empire were spent elsewhere. The single foray into it
has revealed Goblins and Hobgoblins working towards a sinister aim but
no other details. The Caverns of Thracia
- One of the first places explored by adventurers, these ruins and
tunnels lie under a strange jungle. The most recent foray here nearly
ended in disaster, with the Delvers having to escape using a bodged
linked portal scroll.The Temple River - Several explored and half explored complexes lie along this valley. The Strange Elven burial mound with moving walls, The Ruined Bridge and the Troll infested tunnels beneath it. The Moat house (now cleared and re occupied by Temple Forces
three times), There was also a Giant Owlbear that had it’s lair in the
valley and A Gaint is rumoured to keep a herd of Elephants in there as
well.Other briefly explored locations: There
are sea caves near town regularly used by smugglers and pirates. A fort
run by a Mage researching the curse just south of Troy. A dungeon
complex southeast of town that houses a Gorgimera that the arena has
offered a reward for. A dwarven fortress lost to Orcs at the eastern end
of the Blackwood. Not to mention the lairs of several Dragons and the
Pirate Island.The Players also have a document of information they have assembled and session summaries and it can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rJDadZ0oZvJYBv7KgXYrlHcRRjBwGfWa7Nr6yZupu-o/edit?usp=sharingWhere would you like to go adventuring?

Also the diet bet is working, I weight 14st 5lbs and have lost 5lbs this month.

Monday, 4 February 2013

An interesting thing about the magic items in Dnd Next is that it has tables for the items origins and minor abilities. So I amended the table to reflect my This is Thracia Setting:I
wanted magic items to be rare so creating them needs a specific ritual
for each item and then specific reagents (that would typically require
an adventure to get) to complete the ritual as well as a Gold Piece cost
and the other prerequisites. Roll 1D20 for item origin or choose 1 –4 Legion Made
- The closest thing to mass produced Magical items, many officers
centurions and similar in the legions had enchanted gear. These are by
far and away the most common source for magic items. I might go so far
as to say if it is a common item it is of legion make.5 Celestial -
Olympian Crafted on the slopes of mount olympus, probably by Cyclopean
Smiths. These items are often replicas (of lesser power) of that magical
items wielded by the Gods. This would also include Gifts from the gods
such as those that perseus received. This would also include items that
became magical because of the actions of a deity. 6 Draconic -
Made by or from a dragon. Obviously both mean that the items are of
interest to other Dragons you might meet. That may or may not be a good
thing.7 Oriental - There is some trade in these via constantinople and the silk road.8–10 Dwarven -
Typically made by the Followers of Haephasteus. They are also the
people most likely to have a ritual to make a specific item or be able
to work one out for you.11 Elemental (air)12 Elemental (earth)13 Elemental (fire)14 Elemental (water)All
of these were crafted by the temple of Elemental evil and reflect their
element of origin, often found in the hands of The temple forces or
their flunkies.15–17 Elven -
Locally made items are similar to Olympian but clearly of this world
and of slightly lesser (but still exquisite craftsmanship). 18 Fiendish / Abyssal
- Often given as ways of sealing Deals with Mortals, these items will
typically be made by binding an infernal creature into the form of the
item. Owning one of these is a really good way to be accused of
Demomancy.19 Atlantean -
very old often made of strange metals mined from beneath the sea. Only
the Atlkanteans had the skills to make Adamantium items.20 Fey -
Fey items are likely to have come from the Tuatha Dé Danann, and
possibly will have been given as gifts to mortals as part of the great
game all the fey are playing.This
is specifically for the area the players are currently exploring, if
they were to migrate i’d change the frequency on the table as well as
probably some of the entries.Some example currently in the hands of my players:Auxillas Armour:
A +1 suit of Studded leather Lorica grants a bonus to any checks to
avoid fatigue or exhaustion. ~(In next I would have it grant advantage,
in pathfinder It might grant the feat.)The 8th Sword of Ares This
+2 Bastard Sword is as it’s name suggests the 8th Sword Wielded by
Ares. When held by a follower of Ares the sword grants proficiency in
its use and counts as a holy symbol.

Friday, 1 February 2013

I’m
doing a february Diet bet with some guys at work. I have wagered that I
will lose 10lbs in february and will add a pound to the pot every time I
break Diet. I currently Weigh 14st 10lbs and aim to be under 14 stone
by the end of the month.I’m also going to start a This is Thracia DnD Next Game on G+ on Tuesdays to go alongside the Friday game.Meanwhile
Friday’s This is Thracia Game is progressing well. So far since
restarting and converting to Pathfinder the players have cleared out the
lair of a Giant Owlbear, Investigated the monastery of an atlantean
scholastic order that had been attacked by the agents of the Fire
temple, and returned to the Moathouse and dispatched the Gnome Air
Temple illusionists that were guarding the upper level.This evening they plan to clear out the basement level and wait for the resupplies that one of the captured Gnomes spoke about.Drop a note in the comments if you are interested in joining in the G+ games.